AT&T Fires Back With Commercial Of Its Own After Losing Legal Battle Against Verizon

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AT&T Fires Back With Commercial Of Its Own After Losing Legal Battle Against Verizon

Verizon Wireless (NYSE: VZ) can continue running its TV commercials that show its 3G coverage is five times greater than AT&T’s, according to a federal court ruling today.

CNet reports that the judge declined to grant AT&T (NYSE: T) a temporary restraining order that would force Verizon to stop showing the ads until the matter is settled in court. AT&T pledges to continue the case, and in the meantime has launched an advertising campaign of its own. Engadget says the commercial looks like it was put together in a hurry with Luke Wilson checking off features that AT&T has and Verizon doesn’t with a bucket of magnets and a board. The features include things like “the most popular smartphones,” and “The nation’s fastest 3G network.”

Mark Siegel, a spokesman for AT&T, told CNet in an e-mail: “While we are disappointed with the court’s decision on our request for a temporary restraining order, we still feel strongly that Verizon’s ads mislead consumers into thinking that AT&T doesn’t offer wireless service in large portions of the country, which is clearly not the case.” Verizon Wireless spokesman Jeffrey Nelson wrote in a Tweet: “We are pleased with the court’s decision to deny AT&T’s request that we stop running our “Map” ads.”

Tricia Duryee

@triciad Nov 18, 2009 8:58 PM ET

Posted In: Companies, AT&T, Verizon

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Leah

Verizon CAN surf the web just fine while you’re on a call. You must be connected to your Wi-fi. Not a big deal. Problem solved.

I’m still waiting for AT&T to explain… How can you talk on your phone and surf the web simultaneously when you don’t have a signal??? The truth is that Verizon’s 3G network is five times bigger than AT&T’s, and if you don’t have 3G, you won’t be surfing the web on your phone. And another fact is that AT&T’s network is notorious for dropping calls. So combine their tiny 3G network with their horrible call connectivity, and I don’t think too many people are talking and surfing simultaneously on their iPhones.
Regardless, AT&T’s commercial is extremely weak. Yes, I do have Verizon and the Droid. I have NEVER wished I could surf the web while I was talking on my phone. In fact, I can not think of ONE situation where I have ever surfed the web while talking on the phone at home, where I have separate phone and internet. So this seems like a pretty useless capability and a pretty transparent attempt to divert attention away from the real issue, which is their tiny 3G network and horrible call connectivity..

Jared

Actually “Bob” you are incorrect with saying Verizon does no allow simultaneous Voice and Data because it does. I have the Motorola Droid and i surf the web while on the phone all the time so you lose and AT&T loses again with that statement…

Bob

At least they note that Verizon's old CDMA network does not allow simultaneous Voice and Data.

So much for multitasking on the Droid - iPhone trumps here!

Jon

You have to love the world of telco. I spent 4 years at a senior level in one. There is a whole department of lawyers solely focused on ripping the competitions ads and pricing apart, and then every now and again one ad comes along and it stings and nothing can be done about!

I am with AT&T and I have to say their network is patchy when it comes to 3G…